SEC Form 10-Q filed by A.O. Smith Corporation
$AOS
Consumer Electronics/Appliances
Consumer Discretionary
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
______________________________________________________
FORM 10-Q
______________________________________________________
| QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | |||||
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2024 .
or
| TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | |||||
For the transition period from __________ to __________
Commission File Number 1-475
________________________________
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
________________________________
(State of Incorporation)
(Address of Principal Executive Office)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
(Zip Code)
(414 ) 359-4000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
_________________________________________________
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of Each Class | Trading Symbol | Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered | ||||||||||||
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. ☒ Yes o No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files). ☒ Yes o No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| ☒ | Accelerated Filer | ☐ | ||||||||||||
| Non-accelerated filer | ☐ | Smaller reporting company | ||||||||||||
| Emerging growth company | ||||||||||||||
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act.) ☐ Yes ☒ No
Class A Common Stock Outstanding as of April 24, 2024 - 25,886,364 shares
Common Stock Outstanding as of April 24, 2024 - 120,783,753 shares
Index
A. O. Smith Corporation
2
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1 - FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
A. O. SMITH CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(dollars in millions, except for per share data)
(unaudited)
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||
| Net sales | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Cost of products sold | |||||||||||
| Gross profit | |||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | |||||||||||
| Impairment expense | |||||||||||
| Interest expense | |||||||||||
| Other income, net | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Earnings before provision for income taxes | |||||||||||
| Provision for income taxes | |||||||||||
| Net Earnings | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Basic Net Earnings Per Share of Common Stock | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Diluted Net Earnings Per Share of Common Stock | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Dividends Per Share of Common Stock | $ | $ | |||||||||
A. O. SMITH CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE EARNINGS
(dollars in millions)
(unaudited)
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||
| Net earnings | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Other comprehensive earnings (loss) | |||||||||||
| Foreign currency translation adjustments | ( | ||||||||||
Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow derivative instruments, less related income tax (provision) benefit of $( | ( | ||||||||||
Adjustment to pension liability, less related income tax provision of $ | |||||||||||
| Comprehensive Earnings | $ | $ | |||||||||
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
3
A. O. SMITH CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(dollars in millions)
(unaudited) March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | ||||||||||
| Assets | |||||||||||
| Current Assets | |||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Marketable securities | |||||||||||
| Receivables | |||||||||||
| Inventories | |||||||||||
| Other current assets | |||||||||||
| Total Current Assets | |||||||||||
| Property, plant and equipment | |||||||||||
| Less accumulated depreciation | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Net property, plant and equipment | |||||||||||
| Goodwill | |||||||||||
| Other intangibles | |||||||||||
| Operating lease assets | |||||||||||
| Other assets | |||||||||||
| Total Assets | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Liabilities | |||||||||||
| Current Liabilities | |||||||||||
| Trade payables | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Accrued payroll and benefits | |||||||||||
| Accrued liabilities | |||||||||||
| Product warranties | |||||||||||
| Debt due within one year | |||||||||||
| Total Current Liabilities | |||||||||||
| Long-term debt | |||||||||||
| Product warranties | |||||||||||
| Long-term operating lease liabilities | |||||||||||
| Other liabilities | |||||||||||
| Total Liabilities | |||||||||||
| Stockholders’ Equity | |||||||||||
Class A Common Stock (shares issued, | |||||||||||
Common Stock (shares issued | |||||||||||
| Capital in excess of par value | |||||||||||
| Retained earnings | |||||||||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Treasury stock at cost | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Total Stockholders’ Equity | |||||||||||
| Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity | $ | $ | |||||||||
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
4
A. O. SMITH CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(dollars in millions)
(unaudited)
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||
| Operating Activities | |||||||||||
| Net earnings | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to cash provided by (used in) operating activities: | |||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | |||||||||||
| Stock based compensation expense | |||||||||||
| Deferred income taxes | |||||||||||
| Non-cash impairment | |||||||||||
| Net changes in operating assets and liabilities: | |||||||||||
| Current assets and liabilities | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Noncurrent assets and liabilities | |||||||||||
| Cash Provided by Operating Activities | |||||||||||
| Investing Activities | |||||||||||
| Capital expenditures | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Acquisition of business | ( | ||||||||||
| Investments in marketable securities | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Net proceeds from sale of marketable securities | |||||||||||
| Cash Used in Investing Activities | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Financing Activities | |||||||||||
| Long-term debt repaid | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Common stock repurchases | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Net proceeds from stock option activity | |||||||||||
| Dividends paid | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Cash Used in Financing Activities | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents | ( | ||||||||||
| Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents | ( | ||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of period | |||||||||||
| Cash and Cash Equivalents - End of Period | $ | $ | |||||||||
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
5
A. O. SMITH CORPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(dollars in millions)
(unaudited)
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||
| Class A Common Stock | |||||||||||
| Balance at the beginning of period | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Conversion of Class A Common Stock | |||||||||||
| Balance at end of period | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Common Stock | |||||||||||
| Balance at the beginning of period | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Conversion of Class A Common Stock | $ | ||||||||||
| Balance at end of period | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Capital in Excess of Par Value | |||||||||||
| Balance at the beginning of period | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Issuance of share units | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Vesting of share units | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Stock based compensation expense | |||||||||||
| Exercises of stock options | |||||||||||
| Issuance of share based compensation | |||||||||||
| Balance at end of period | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Retained Earnings | |||||||||||
| Balance at the beginning of period | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Net earnings | |||||||||||
| Dividends on stock | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Balance at end of period | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (see Note 15) | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||||||
| Treasury Stock | |||||||||||
| Balance at the beginning of period | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||||||
| Exercise of stock options | |||||||||||
| Shares repurchased | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Excise tax on repurchases of common stock | ( | ||||||||||
| Vesting of share units | |||||||||||
| Balance at end of period | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||||||
| Total Stockholders’ Equity | $ | $ | |||||||||
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
6
A. O. SMITH CORPORATION
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
March 31, 2024
(unaudited)
1. Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP) for interim financial information and pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2024 are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the full year. It is suggested the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the SEC on February 13, 2024.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In December 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) amended Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 740, Income Taxes (issued under Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2023-09, “Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures”). This ASU requires added disclosures related to the tax rate reconciliation and income taxes paid and includes other amendments intended to improve effectiveness and comparability. The amendment is effective for the Company beginning with its 2025 annual disclosures with early adoption permitted and should be applied on a prospective basis. The Company is currently evaluating the impact the adoption of ASU 2023-09 will have on its annual disclosures.
In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, “Segment Reporting (Topic 280) - Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures.” The update is intended to improve reportable segment disclosure requirements, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant expenses. The ASU requires disclosures to include significant segment expenses that are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker (CODM), a description of other segment items by reportable segment, and any additional measures of a segment's profit or loss used by the CODM when deciding how to allocate resources. The ASU also requires all annual disclosures currently required by Topic 280 to be included in interim periods. The update is effective for the Company beginning with its 2024 annual disclosures and interim periods beginning in 2025, with early adoption permitted and requires retrospective application to all prior periods presented in the financial statements. The Company is currently evaluating the impact the adoption of ASU 2023-07 will have on its annual and interim disclosures.
2. Revenue Recognition
Substantially all of the Company’s sales are from contracts with customers for the purchase of its products. Contracts and customer purchase orders are used to determine the existence of a sales contract. Shipping documents are used to verify shipment. For substantially all of its products, the Company transfers control of products to the customer at the point in time when title and risk are passed to the customer, which generally occurs upon shipment of the product. Each unit sold is considered an independent, unbundled performance obligation. The Company’s sales arrangements do not include other performance obligations that are material in the context of the contract.
The nature, timing and amount of revenue for a respective performance obligation are consistent for each customer. The Company measures the sales transaction price based upon the payment terms associated with the transaction and whether the sales price is subject to refund or adjustment. Sales and value added taxes are excluded from the measurement of the transaction price. The Company’s payment terms for the majority of its customers are 30 to 90 days from shipment.
Additionally, certain customers in China pay the Company prior to the shipment of products resulting in a customer deposits liability of $62.9 million and $59.7 million at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively. Customer deposit liabilities are short term in nature, recognized into revenue within one year of receipt. The Company assesses the collectability of customer receivables based on the creditworthiness of a customer as determined by credit checks and analysis, as well as the customer’s payment history. In determining the allowance for credit losses, the Company also considers various factors including the aging of customer accounts and historical write-offs. In addition, the Company monitors other risk factors including forward-looking information when establishing adequate allowances for credit losses, which reflects the current estimate of credit losses expected to be incurred over the life of the receivables. The Company’s allowance for credit losses was $11.4 million and $10.1 million at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, respectively.
7
2. Revenue Recognition (continued)
Rebates and incentives are based on pricing agreements and are tied to sales volume. The amount of revenue is reduced for variable consideration related to customer rebates which are calculated using expected values and are based on program specific factors such as expected rebate percentages based on expected volumes. In situations where the customer has the right to return eligible products, the Company reduces revenue for its estimates of expected product returns, which are primarily based on an analysis of historical experience. Changes in such accruals may be required if actual sales volume differs from estimated sales volume or if future returns differ from historical experience. Shipping and handling costs billed to customers are included in net sales and the related costs are included in cost of products sold and are activities performed to fulfill the promise to transfer products.
Disaggregation of Net Sales
The Company is comprised of two reporting segments: North America and Rest of World. The Rest of World segment is primarily comprised of China, Europe and India. Both segments manufacture and market comprehensive lines of residential and commercial gas, heat pump and electric water heaters, boilers, tanks and water treatment products. Both segments primarily manufacture and market in their respective regions of the world.
As each segment manufactures and markets products in its respective region of the world, the Company has determined that geography is the primary factor in reporting its sales. The Company further disaggregates its North America segment sales by major product line as each of North America’s major product lines is sold through distinct distribution channels and these product lines may be impacted differently by certain economic factors. Within the Rest of World segment, particularly in China and India, the Company’s major customers purchase across the Company’s product lines, utilizing the same distribution channels regardless of product type. In addition, the impact of economic factors is unlikely to be differentiated by product line in the Rest of World segment.
The North America segment's major product lines are defined as the following:
Water heaters The Company’s water heaters are open water heating systems that heat potable water. Typical applications for water heaters include residences, restaurants, hotels, office buildings, laundries, car washes and small businesses. The Company sells residential and commercial water heater products and related parts through its wholesale distribution channel, which includes more than 900 independent wholesale plumbing distributors. The Company also sells residential water heaters and related parts through retail and maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) channels. A significant portion of the Company’s water heater sales in the North America segment is derived from the replacement of existing products.
Boilers The Company’s boilers are closed loop water heating systems used primarily for space heating or hydronic heating. The Company’s boilers are primarily used in applications in commercial settings for hospitals, schools, hotels and other large commercial buildings while residential boilers are used in homes, apartments and condominiums. The Company’s boiler distribution channel is comprised primarily of manufacturer representative firms, with the remainder of its boilers distributed through wholesale channels. The Company’s boiler sales in the North America segment are derived from a combination of replacement of existing products and new construction.
Water treatment products The Company’s water treatment products range from point-of-entry water softeners, solutions for problem well water, and whole-home water filtration products to on-the-go filtration bottles, point-of-use carbon, and reverse osmosis products. Typical applications for the Company’s water treatment products include residences, restaurants, hotels and offices. The Company sells water treatment products through its retail and wholesale distribution channels, similar to water heaters. The Company’s water treatment products are also sold through independent water quality dealers as well as directly to consumers including through e-commerce sales channels. A portion of the Company’s sales of water treatment products in the North America segment is comprised of replacement filters.
8
2. Revenue Recognition (continued)
The following table disaggregates the Company’s net sales by segment. As described above, the Company’s North America segment sales are further disaggregated by major product line. In addition, the Company’s Rest of World segment sales are disaggregated by China and all other Rest of World:
| (dollars in millions) | Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||
| North America | |||||||||||
| Water heaters and related parts | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Boilers and related parts | |||||||||||
| Water treatment products and related parts | |||||||||||
| Total North America | |||||||||||
| Rest of World | |||||||||||
| China | $ | $ | |||||||||
| All other Rest of World | |||||||||||
| Total Rest of World | |||||||||||
| Inter-segment sales | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Total Net Sales | $ | $ | |||||||||
3. Acquisition and Dispositions
Acquisition
During the first quarter of 2024, the Company acquired a privately-held water treatment company. The Company paid an aggregate cash purchase price of $21.1 million, net of cash acquired. The Company also agreed to make contingent payments based on the amount by which sales of products increase over the next three years . The addition of the acquired company expands the Company's water treatment footprint in North America. The acquired company is included in the North America segment.
As required under ASC 805 Business Combinations, results of operations have been included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition.
Dispositions
During the second quarter of 2024, the Company exited its operations in Vietnam. The restructuring expense associated with the exit was recorded in the fourth quarter of 2023 and did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.
During the second quarter of 2023, the Company sold its business in Turkey (disposal group), which was included in the Company's Rest of World segment, for an amount that approximated the carrying value of the net assets.
9
4. Inventories
The following table presents the components of the Company’s inventory balances:
| (dollars in millions) | March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||||||||
| Finished products | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Work in process | |||||||||||
| Raw materials | |||||||||||
| Inventories, at FIFO cost | |||||||||||
| LIFO reserve | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Inventories, at LIFO cost | $ | $ | |||||||||
5. Product Warranties
The Company offers warranties on the sales of certain of its products with terms that are consistent with the market and records an accrual for the estimated future claims. The following table presents the Company’s warranty liability activity:
| (dollars in millions) | Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||
| Balance at January 1, | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Expense | |||||||||||
| Claims settled | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Balance at March 31, | $ | $ | |||||||||
6. Debt
In 2021, the Company renewed and amended its $500 million multi-year multi-currency revolving credit agreement with a new expiration date of April 1, 2026. The facility has an accordion provision that allows it to be increased up to $850 million if certain conditions (including lender approval) are satisfied. Borrowings under the Company's bank credit lines and commercial paper borrowings are supported by a $500 million revolving credit agreement. As a result of the long-term nature of this facility, the Company’s commercial paper and credit line borrowings are classified as long-term debt at March 31, 2024. At its option, the Company either maintains cash balances or pays fees for bank credit and services. The facility requires the Company to maintain two financial covenants, a leverage ratio test and an interest coverage test. The Company was in compliance with the covenants as of March 31, 2024.
7. Earnings per Share of Common Stock
The numerator for the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share is net earnings. The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted weighted-average shares used in the earnings per share calculations:
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||
| Denominator for basic earnings per share - weighted average shares | |||||||||||
| Effect of dilutive stock options and share units | |||||||||||
| Denominator for diluted earnings per share | |||||||||||
8. Stock Based Compensation
The Company adopted the A. O. Smith Combined Incentive Compensation Plan (the Incentive Plan) effective January 1, 2007, and the Incentive Plan was reapproved by stockholders on April 15, 2020. The Incentive Plan is a continuation of the A. O. Smith Combined Executive Incentive Compensation Plan which was originally approved by stockholders in 2002. The number of shares available for granting of share units at March 31, 2024 was 2,293,586 . Upon stock option exercise or share unit
10
8. Stock Based Compensation (continued)
vesting, shares are issued from treasury stock. Total stock based compensation expense recognized in the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 was $8.3 million and $7.0 million, respectively.
Stock Options
Beginning in 2023, the Company no longer grants stock options. Stock options previously granted have a three year pro rata vesting from the date of grant. Stock options were issued at exercise prices equal to the fair value of the Company’s Common Stock on the date of grant. For active employees, all options granted expire ten years after the date of grant. The Company’s stock options are expensed ratably over the three year vesting period. Stock based compensation expense attributable to stock options in the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 was $0.2 million and $0.3 million, respectively.
Changes in options, all of which relate to the Company’s Common Stock, were as follows for the three months ended March 31, 2024:
| Weighted- Avg. Per Share Exercise Price | Number of Options | Average Remaining Contractual Life | Aggregate Intrinsic Value (dollars in millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Outstanding at January 1, 2024 | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Exercised | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forfeited | ( | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Outstanding at March 31, 2024 | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Exercisable at March 31, 2024 | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Share Units
Participants in the Incentive Plan may be awarded share units. Share units vest three years after the date of grant. The Company granted 189,792 and 165,686 share units under the Incentive Plan in the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
The share units were valued at $15.6 million and $11.1 million at the date of issuance in 2024 and 2023, respectively, based on the price of the Company’s Common Stock at the date of grant. The share units are recognized as compensation expense ratably over the three-year vesting period; however, included in share unit expense in the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 was expense associated with accelerated vesting of share unit awards for certain employees who are retirement eligible or will become retirement eligible during the vesting period. Stock based compensation expense attributable to share units of $7.8 million and $6.6 million was recognized in the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Certain non-U.S.-based employees receive the cash value of the share price at the vesting date in lieu of shares. Unvested cash-settled awards are remeasured at each reporting period.
A summary of share unit activity under the Incentive Plan is as follows for the three months ended March 31, 2024:
| Number of Units | Weighted-Average Grant Date Value | ||||||||||
| Issued and unvested at January 1, 2024 | $ | ||||||||||
| Granted | |||||||||||
| Vested | ( | ||||||||||
| Forfeited | ( | ||||||||||
| Issued and unvested at March 31, 2024 | |||||||||||
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8. Stock Based Compensation (continued)
Performance Stock Units
Beginning in 2023, certain executives may be awarded performance stock units under the Incentive Plan. Performance stock units vest over three years following the date of the grant. Performance stock units vest under a set of measurement criteria which are based upon achievement of certain Environmental, Social, and Governance targets. Potential payouts range from zero to 150 % of the target awards and changes from target amounts are reflected as performance adjustments. The Company granted 28,390 and 24,580 performance stock units under the Incentive Plan in the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
The performance stock units were valued at $2.3 million and $1.7 million at the date of issuance in 2024 and 2023, respectively, based on the price of the Company’s Common Stock at the date of grant. The performance stock units are recognized as compensation expense ratably over the three-year vesting period. Stock based compensation expense attributable to performance stock units of $0.3 million and $0.1 million was recognized in the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Certain non-U.S.-based executives receive the cash value of the share price at the vesting date in lieu of shares. Unvested cash-settled awards are remeasured at each reporting period.
A summary of performance stock unit activity under the Incentive Plan is as follows for the three months ended March 31, 2024:
| Number of Units | Weighted-Average Grant Date Value | ||||||||||
| Issued and unvested at January 1, 2024 | $ | ||||||||||
| Granted | |||||||||||
| Performance adjustments | |||||||||||
| Issued and unvested at March 31, 2024 | |||||||||||
9. Pensions
The following table presents the components of the Company’s net pension expense:
| (dollars in millions) | Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||
| Service cost | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Interest cost | |||||||||||
| Expected return on plan assets | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Amortization of unrecognized loss | |||||||||||
| Total pension expense | $ | $ | |||||||||
The service cost component of net periodic benefit cost is presented within cost of products sold and selling, general and administrative expenses within the condensed consolidated statements of earnings while the other components of pension expense are reflected in other (income) expense, net. The Company was not required to and did no t make a contribution to its U.S. pension plan in 2023. The Company is no t required to make a contribution in 2024.
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10. Segment Results
The Company is comprised of two reporting segments: North America and Rest of World. The Rest of World segment is primarily comprised of China, Europe and India. Both segments manufacture and market comprehensive lines of residential and commercial gas and electric water heaters, boilers, tanks, and water treatment products. Both segments primarily manufacture and market in their respective regions of the world. The following table presents the Company’s segment results:
| (dollars in millions) | Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||
| Net sales | |||||||||||
| North America | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Rest of World | |||||||||||
| Inter-segment | ( | ( | |||||||||
| $ | $ | ||||||||||
| Segment earnings | |||||||||||
| North America | $ | $ | |||||||||
Rest of World(1) | |||||||||||
| Inter-segment earnings elimination | ( | ||||||||||
Corporate expense(2) | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Interest expense | ( | ( | |||||||||
| Earnings before income taxes | |||||||||||
| Provision for income taxes | |||||||||||
| Net earnings | $ | $ | |||||||||
| Additional Information | |||||||||||
(1) Adjustments: Rest of World | |||||||||||
| includes impairment expense of: | $ | $ | |||||||||
(2) Adjustments: Corporate expense | |||||||||||
| includes impairment expense of: | $ | $ | |||||||||
11. Fair Value Measurements
Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 820, Fair Value Measurements, among other things, defines fair value, establishes a consistent framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosure for each major asset and liability category measured at fair value on either a recurring basis or nonrecurring basis. ASC 820 clarifies that fair value is an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement that should be determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. As a basis for considering such assumptions, ASC 820 establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value as follows: (Level 1) observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets; (Level 2) inputs, other than the quoted prices in active markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly; and (Level 3) unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions. Assets and liabilities measured at fair value are based on the market approach which are prices and other relevant information generated by market transactions involving identical or comparable assets or liabilities.
Assets (liabilities) measured at fair value on a recurring basis are as follows (dollars in millions):
| Fair Value Measurement Using | Balance Sheet Location | March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||||||||||
| Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) | Marketable Securities | $ | $ | |||||||||||
| Significant other observable inputs (Level 2) | Other current assets / (Accrued liabilities) | ( | ||||||||||||
13
11. Fair Value Measurements (continued)
Items measured at fair value were comprised of the Company’s marketable securities (Level 1) and derivative instruments (Level 2). There were no changes in the Company's valuation techniques used to measure fair values on a recurring basis during the three months ended March 31, 2024.
12. Derivative Instruments
The Company utilizes certain derivative instruments to enhance its ability to manage currency exposure as well as raw materials price risk. Derivative instruments are entered into for periods consistent with the related underlying exposures and do not constitute positions independent of those exposures. The Company does not enter into contracts for speculative purposes. The contracts are executed with major financial institutions with no credit loss anticipated for failure of the counterparties to perform.
Cash Flow Hedges
With the exception of its net investment hedges, the Company designates all of its hedging instruments as cash flow hedges. For derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as a cash flow hedge (i.e., hedging the exposure to variability in expected future cash flows that is attributable to a particular risk), gains or losses on the derivative instrument are reported as a component of other comprehensive loss, net of tax, and are reclassified into earnings in the same line item associated with the forecasted transaction and in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings.
Foreign Currency Forward Contracts
The Company is exposed to foreign currency exchange risk as a result of transactions in currencies other than the functional currency of certain subsidiaries. The Company utilizes foreign currency forward purchase and sale contracts to manage the volatility associated with foreign currency purchases, sales and certain intercompany transactions in the normal course of business. Principal currencies for which the Company utilizes foreign currency forward contracts from time to time include the British pound, Canadian dollar, Euro and Mexican peso.
Gains and losses on these instruments are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax, until the underlying transaction is recorded in earnings. When the hedged item is realized, gains or losses are reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss to the consolidated statement of earnings. The assessment of effectiveness for forward contracts is based on changes in the forward rates. These hedges have been determined to be effective. The majority of the amounts in accumulated other comprehensive loss for cash flow hedges are expected to be reclassified into earnings within one year.
The majority of the amounts in accumulated other comprehensive loss for cash flow hedges are expected to be reclassified into earnings within one year . The combined fair value of the foreign currency forward contracts was an asset balance of $2.3 million as of March 31, 2024 which was recorded in Other current assets within the consolidated balance sheet. The combined fair value of the foreign currency forward contracts was an asset balance of $0.9 million as of December 31, 2023 which was recorded in Other current assets within the consolidated balance sheet.
The following table summarizes, by currency, the contractual amounts of the Company’s foreign currency forward contracts as of the dates indicated that were designated as cash flow hedges:
| (dollars in millions) | March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Buy | Sell | Buy | Sell | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Canadian dollar | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Euro | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mexican peso | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
14
12. Derivative Instruments (continued)
Net Investment Hedges
The Company enters into certain foreign currency forward contracts to hedge the exposure to a portion of the Company’s net investments in certain non-U.S. subsidiaries against the effect of exchange rate fluctuations on the translation of foreign currency balances to the U.S. dollar. For the derivative instruments that are designated and qualify as net investment hedges, gains and losses are reported in other comprehensive loss where they offset gains and losses recorded on the Company’s net investments in its non-U.S. subsidiaries. These hedges are determined to be effective. The Company recognized $4.0 million and $0.5 million of after-tax gains associated with hedges of net investments in non-U.S. subsidiaries in currency translation adjustment in other comprehensive loss in the three months ended March 31, 2024 and March 31, 2023, respectively. The contractual amount of the Company's foreign currency forward contracts that are designated as net investment hedges was $204.0 million as of March 31, 2024. The combined fair value of the net investment hedges was an asset balance of $1.1 million as of March 31, 2024 which was recorded in Other current assets within the consolidated balance sheet. The combined fair value of the net investment hedges was a liability balance of $(4.2 ) million as of December 31, 2023 which was recorded in Accrued liabilities within the consolidated balance sheet.
The effect of cash flow hedges on the condensed consolidated statement of earnings:
Three Months Ended March 31 (dollars in millions):
| Derivatives in ASC 815 cash flow hedging relationships | Amount of gain recognized in other comprehensive loss on derivatives | Location of gain reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss into earnings | Amount of gain reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss into earnings | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Foreign currency contracts | $ | $ | Cost of products sold | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance Sheet Hedges
Foreign Exchange Contracts
The Company periodically enters into foreign exchange contracts to mitigate the foreign currency volatility relative to certain intercompany loans. These foreign exchange contracts did not qualify for hedge accounting in accordance with ASC 815 and as such were marked to market through earnings. The fair value of the foreign exchange contracts was a liability balance of $(0.3 ) million as of March 31, 2024 which was recorded in Accrued liabilities within the consolidated balance sheet. The fair value of the foreign exchange contracts was a liability balance of $(0.8 ) million as of December 31, 2023 which was recorded in Accrued liabilities within the consolidated balance sheet.
The following table summarizes the contractual amounts of the Company's foreign exchange contracts that are designated as balance sheet hedges:
| (dollars in millions) | March 31, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Buy | Sell | Buy | Sell | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Canadian dollar | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
| Chinese yuan | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||||||
The amounts recognized within the consolidated statements of earnings related to the Company's foreign exchange contracts are set forth below.
Three Months Ended March 31 (dollars in millions):
| Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments: | Location within the consolidated statements of earnings | 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||
| Foreign exchange contracts | Other income - net | $ | $ | ( | |||||||||||||
15
13. Income Taxes
The Company’s effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2024 was 23.4 percent. The Company estimates that its annual effective income tax rate for the full year 2024 will be approximately between 24 and 24.5 percent. The effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2023 was 25.9 percent. The change in the effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to the effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2023 was primarily due to a $15.6 million impairment expense recorded in the prior year period with no associated tax benefit. Refer to Note 3 - Acquisition and Dispositions for additional information regarding the impairment expense.
14. Commitments and Contingencies
The Company maintains a commercial relationship with a supply-chain service provider (the Provider) in connection with the Company’s business in China. In this capacity, the Provider offers order-entry, warehousing and logistics support. The Provider also offers asset-backed financing to certain of the Company’s distributors in China to facilitate their working capital needs. To facilitate its financing support business, the Provider has collateralized lending facilities in place with multiple Chinese banks under which the Company has agreed to repurchase inventory if both requested by the banks and certain defined conditions are met, primarily related to the aging of the distributors’ notes.
16
15. Changes in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss by Component
Changes to accumulated other comprehensive loss by component are as follows:
| (dollars in millions) | Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||||
| Cumulative foreign currency translation | |||||||||||||||||
| Balance at beginning of period | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications | ( | ||||||||||||||||
| Balance at end of period | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Unrealized net gain on cash flow derivatives | |||||||||||||||||
| Balance at beginning of period | |||||||||||||||||
| Other comprehensive gain before reclassifications | |||||||||||||||||
Realized gains on derivatives reclassified to cost of products sold (net of income tax provision of $ | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Balance at end of period | |||||||||||||||||
| Pension liability | |||||||||||||||||
| Balance at beginning of period | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss:(1) | |||||||||||||||||
| Balance at end of period | ( | ( | |||||||||||||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss, end of period | $ | ( | $ | ( | |||||||||||||
(1) Amortization of pension items: | |||||||||||||||||
| Actuarial losses | $ | $ | (2) | ||||||||||||||
| Reclassification net of income tax benefit | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||
(2)These accumulated other comprehensive loss components are included in the computation of net periodic pension cost. See Note 9 - Pensions for additional details.
17
ITEM 2 - MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Overview
Our company is comprised of two reporting segments: North America and Rest of World. Our Rest of World segment is primarily comprised of China, Europe and India. Both segments manufacture and market comprehensive lines of residential and commercial gas, heat pump and electric water heaters, boilers, tanks, and water treatment products. Both segments primarily manufacture and market in their respective region of the world.
Our supply chain has been relatively stable. However, we continue to monitor potential disruptions and increase our safety stock of key components when we believe it is warranted. We remain in close contact with our suppliers and logistics providers to resolve supply chain constraints as they arise.
We continue to seek acquisitions that enable geographic growth, expand our core business, and establish adjacencies. In the first quarter of 2024, we acquired Impact Water Products, a California-based water treatment company. The acquisition supports our growth strategy by expanding the West Coast presence of our water treatment business. We also continue to look for opportunities to add to our existing product portfolio in high growth regions demonstrated by our previous introductions of kitchen products in China. We also recently introduced our internally designed and manufactured gas tankless water heaters in North America. In addition, we are expanding our commercial water heater capacity in preparation for the new efficiency rule for commercial water heaters that the Department of Energy (DOE) has adopted that will take effect in 2026.
In our North America segment, we saw strong water heater demand in the first quarter that benefited from increased orders ahead of our March 1st price increases. We project 2024 industry residential unit volumes will be flat after approximately six percent growth in 2023. Proactive replacement has been above historical levels for the last several years and we project that will continue in 2024. We believe that new home construction remains in a deficit and will be flat compared to 2023. We anticipate that commercial water heater industry volumes will grow low single digits in 2024 compared to 2023 as demand for commercial electric water heaters greater than 55 gallon continues a positive trend toward pre-2022 levels. Sales of our boilers and water treatment products were negatively impacted by elevated channel inventories in 2023. We believe that channel inventories returned to near normal levels at the beginning of 2024 for both product categories. We expect to see an eight to ten percent increase in our sales of boilers in 2024 compared to 2023 as we continue to benefit from the transition to higher efficiency boilers. We anticipate sales of our North America water treatment products will increase approximately eight to ten percent in 2024, compared to 2023, as we continue our geographic expansion.
In our Rest of World segment, we saw local currency third-party sales growth in China of six percent in the first quarter. We project our third-party sales in China will be flat to up three percent in 2024 in local currency compared to 2023 driven by innovative new products and resilient demand for our core products. Our guidance assumes an unfavorable currency translation impact on sales of approximately one percent in 2024.
Combining all of these factors, we expect our 2024 consolidated sales to increase between three and five percent compared to 2023. Our guidance excludes the impacts from potential future acquisitions.
18
Results of Operations
| (dollars in millions) | Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||
| Net sales | $ | 978.8 | $ | 966.4 | |||||||
| Cost of products sold | 594.1 | 592.3 | |||||||||
| Gross profit | 384.7 | 374.1 | |||||||||
| Gross profit margin % | 39.3 | % | 38.7 | % | |||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 192.2 | 187.2 | |||||||||
| Impairment expense | — | 15.6 | |||||||||
| Interest expense | 1.0 | 4.0 | |||||||||
| Other income, net | (1.2) | (4.0) | |||||||||
| Earnings before provision for income taxes | 192.7 | 171.3 | |||||||||
| Provision for income taxes | 45.1 | 44.4 | |||||||||
| Net Earnings | $ | 147.6 | $ | 126.9 | |||||||
Our sales in the first quarter of 2024 were $978.8 million, or 1.3 percent higher than the first quarter 2023 sales of $966.4 million. Compared to the prior year quarter, the increased sales were primarily driven by a positive mix shift towards high efficiency commercial water heaters including heat pumps. In addition, our sales in the first quarter of 2024 were unfavorably impacted by approximately $9 million due to the depreciation of foreign currencies compared to the U.S. dollar.
Our gross profit margin in the first quarter of 2024 was 39.3 percent and increased compared to 38.7 percent in the first quarter of 2023. The higher gross profit margin in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same period last year was primarily due to lower steel costs.
Selling, general, and administrative (SG&A) expenses in the first quarter of 2024 increased by $5.0 million compared to the first quarter of 2023. The increase in SG&A expenses in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the prior year period was primarily due to higher research and development expenses and higher employee costs from increased wages and management incentives.
Impairment expense in the first quarter of 2023 was $15.6 million related to the sale of our business in Turkey. Of the $15.6 million impairment, $12.5 million was recorded in the Rest of World segment and $3.1 million in Corporate Expense. There was no impairment expense recorded in the first quarter of 2024.
Interest expense in the first quarter of 2024 was $1.0 million compared to $4.0 million in the same period last year. The decrease in interest expense in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same period last year was primarily due to lower debt levels.
Other income, net was $1.2 million in the first quarter of 2024 compared to $4.0 million in the first quarter of 2023. The decrease in Other income, net was primarily due to higher foreign currency translation losses and lower interest income compared to the same period last year.
The Company’s effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2024 was 23.4 percent. The effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2023 was 25.9 percent. The change in the effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2024 compared to the effective income tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2023 was primarily due to the $15.6 million impairment expense recorded in the prior year period with no associated tax benefit. We estimate that our annual effective income tax rate for the full year of 2024 will be approximately between 24 and 24.5 percent.
We are providing non-U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) measures (adjusted earnings, adjusted EPS, total segment earnings, adjusted segment earnings, and adjusted corporate expense) that exclude the impact of the 2023 impairment expense. Reconciliations from GAAP measures to non-GAAP measures are provided in the Non-GAAP Measures section below. We believe that the measures of adjusted earnings, adjusted EPS, total segment earnings, adjusted segment earnings, and adjusted corporate expense provide useful information to investors about our performance and allow management and our investors to better understand our performance between periods without regard to items that we do not consider to be a component of our core operating performance.
19
North America Segment
| (dollars in millions) | Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||
| Net Sales | $ | 766.3 | $ | 752.7 | |||||||
| Segment Earnings | 198.7 | 188.6 | |||||||||
| Segment margin | 25.9 | % | 25.1 | % | |||||||
Sales in our North America segment were $766.3 million in the first quarter of 2024, or $13.6 million higher than sales of $752.7 million in the first quarter of 2023. Higher sales in the first quarter of 2024 were primarily driven by higher volumes of commercial water heaters and a positive product mix shift towards high efficiency water heaters, including heat pumps.
North America segment earnings were $198.7 million in the first quarter of 2024, an increase of approximately 5.4 percent compared to segment earnings of $188.6 million in the first quarter of 2023. Segment margins were 25.9 percent and 25.1 percent in the first quarter of 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Higher segment earnings and margins in the first quarter of 2024 compared to the prior year were primarily due to the benefits of the positive product mix shift toward high efficiency products, higher commercial water heater volumes, and lower steel costs that were partially offset by higher selling and advertising expenses. We estimate our 2024 North America segment margin will be approximately 25 percent.
Rest of World Segment
| (dollars in millions) | Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||
| Net Sales | $ | 226.9 | $ | 219.1 | |||||||
| Segment Earnings | 17.2 | 5.3 | |||||||||
| Segment margin | 7.6 | % | 2.4 | % | |||||||
Sales in the Rest of World segment were $226.9 million in the first quarter of 2024, or $7.8 million higher than sales of $219.1 million in the first quarter of 2023. The increased sales in the first quarter of 2024 compared to 2023 was primarily due to higher volumes of kitchen products in China and increased inter-segment sales of approximately $8 million related to our recently introduced tankless water heaters manufactured in China and shipped to the U.S. market, partially offset by unfavorable foreign currency translation of approximately $9 million.
Rest of World segment earnings were $17.2 million in the first quarter of 2024, compared to $5.3 million in the first quarter of 2023. Segment margins were 7.6 percent and 2.4 percent in the first quarter of 2024 and 2023, respectively. Higher segment earnings and segment margin in the first quarter of 2024 were primarily driven by the absence of the nonrecurring impairment expense of $12.5 million associated with the sale of our business in Turkey recorded in the first quarter of 2023. We estimate our 2024 Rest of World segment margin will be approximately ten percent.
Adjusted segment earnings and adjusted segment margin in the first quarter of 2023 were $17.8 million and 8.1 percent, respectively. Adjusted segment earnings and adjusted segment margin in the first quarter of 2023 exclude the $12.5 million impairment expense.
Outlook
We expect our consolidated sales to increase in 2024 between three and five percent. Our sales projection is driven by continued end-market demand in water heating and the rebound that we expect in boiler and water treatment volumes after 2023 corrections in end-market inventories. In our Rest of the World segment, we expect overall growth in China driven by new products and resilient demand for core product offerings. We expect to achieve full-year earnings of between $3.90 and $4.15 per share. Our guidance excludes the impacts from potential future acquisitions.
20
Liquidity & Capital Resources
Our working capital was $578.1 million at March 31, 2024, compared with $555.0 million at December 31, 2023. The increase in working capital was primarily related to higher inventory balances, lower accounts payable and payroll-related accruals partially offset by lower cash balances. As of March 31, 2024, cash balances were negatively impacted by $3.1 million due to changes in foreign currency during the year. Cash and cash equivalents used to fund our operations are primarily generated through operating activities and provided by our existing credit facilities. We believe our available cash and existing credit facilities are sufficient to cover our cash needs for the foreseeable future. We use a global cash pooling arrangement, intercompany borrowing, and some local credit lines to meet funding needs and allocate capital resources among various entities. We have historically made and anticipate future cash repatriations to the United States from certain foreign subsidiaries.
| (dollars in millions) | Three Months Ended March 31, | ||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||
| Cash provided by operating activities | $ | 106.6 | $ | 119.9 | |||||||
| Cash used in investing activities | (71.2) | (9.8) | |||||||||
| Cash used in financing activities | (120.6) | (97.5) | |||||||||
Cash provided by operations was $106.6 million in the first three months of 2024 compared to $119.9 million in the prior year period, which decreased primarily as a result of higher incentive payments associated with record sales and profits earned in 2023 and higher inventory levels that more than offset higher earnings and accounts payable balances. Our free cash flow in the first quarter of 2024 and 2023 was $84.6 million and $109.2 million, respectively. We expect cash provided by operating activities to be between $640 million and $690 million in 2024. We expect free cash flow to be between $525 million and $575 million in 2024. Free cash flow is a non-GAAP measure described in more detail in the Non-GAAP Measures section below.
Capital expenditures totaled $22.0 million in the first quarter of 2024 compared with $10.7 million in the same period last year. We project 2024 capital expenditures will be between $105 million and $115 million and full-year depreciation and amortization expense will be approximately $80 million.
We have a $500 million revolving credit facility which expires on April 1, 2026. The facility is with a group of nine banks and has an accordion provision that allows it to be increased up to $850 million if certain conditions (including lender approval) are satisfied. Borrowing rates under the facility are determined by our leverage ratio. The facility requires us to maintain two financial covenants, a leverage ratio test and an interest coverage test, and we were in compliance with the covenants as of March 31, 2024, and expect to be in compliance for the foreseeable future. The facility backs up commercial paper and credit line borrowings. At March 31, 2024, we had no borrowings outstanding under the facility and an available borrowing capacity of $500 million. We believe the combination of available borrowing capacity and operating cash flows will provide sufficient funds to finance our existing operations for the foreseeable future.
Our total debt decreased by $7.6 million in the first quarter of 2024 primarily due to debt repayments. Our leverage, as measured by the ratio of total debt to total capitalization, was 6.0 percent at March 31, 2024, compared with 6.5 percent at December 31, 2023.
In the first quarter of 2024, our Board of Directors approved adding 2,000,000 shares of common stock to our existing discretionary share repurchase authority. Under our share repurchase program, we may purchase our common stock through a combination of a Rule 10b5-1 automatic trading plan and discretionary purchases in accordance with applicable securities laws. The stock repurchase authorization remains effective until terminated by our Board of Directors, which may occur at any time, subject to the parameters of any Rule 10b5-1 automatic trading plan that we may then have in effect. During the first three months of 2024, we repurchased 906,000 shares of our stock at a total cost of $74.5 million. At March 31, 2024, we had 4,595,462 shares remaining on the share repurchase authority. Depending on factors such as stock price, working capital requirements, and alternative investment opportunities, we expect to spend approximately $300 million on stock repurchases in 2024 through a combination of any renewed Rule 10b5-1 automatic trading plan and open market repurchases.
On April 9, 2024, our Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.32 per share on our Common Stock and Class A common stock. The dividend is payable on May 15, 2024, to shareholders of record on April 30, 2024.
21
Non-GAAP Financial Information
We provide non-GAAP measures of free cash flow, adjusted earnings, adjusted EPS, total segment earnings, adjusted segment earnings, and adjusted corporate expense. We define free cash flow as cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures. Our adjusted earnings, adjusted EPS, adjusted segment earnings, and adjusted corporate expenses exclude the impact of the 2023 impairment expense.
We believe that free cash flow provides useful additional information concerning cash flow available to meet future debt service obligations and working capital requirements. We believe that the measure of adjusted earnings, adjusted EPS, adjusted segment earnings and adjusted corporate expense provides useful information to investors about our performance and allows management and our investors to better understand our performance between periods without regard to items we do not consider to be a component of our core operating performance.
A. O. SMITH CORPORATION
Adjusted Earnings and Adjusted Earnings Per Share
(dollars in millions, except per share data)
(unaudited)
The following is a reconciliation of net earnings and diluted earnings per share to adjusted earnings (non-GAAP) and adjusted earnings per share (non-GAAP):
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||||
| Net Earnings (GAAP) | $ | 147.6 | $ | 126.9 | |||||||||||||
| Impairment expense, before tax | — | 15.6 | |||||||||||||||
| Tax effect on above items | — | — | |||||||||||||||
| Adjusted Earnings (non-GAAP) | $ | 147.6 | $ | 142.5 | |||||||||||||
| Diluted Earnings Per Share (GAAP) | $ | 1.00 | $ | 0.84 | |||||||||||||
| Impairment expense per diluted share, before tax | — | 0.10 | |||||||||||||||
| Tax effect on above items per diluted share | — | — | |||||||||||||||
| Adjusted Earnings Per Share (non-GAAP) | $ | 1.00 | $ | 0.94 | |||||||||||||
22
A. O. SMITH CORPORATION
Adjusted Segment Earnings
(dollars in millions)
(unaudited)
The following is a reconciliation of reported earnings before provision for income taxes to total segment earnings (non-GAAP) and adjusted segment earnings (non-GAAP):
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||||
| Earnings Before Provision for Income Taxes (GAAP) | $ | 192.7 | $ | 171.3 | |||||||||||||
Add: Corporate expense(1) | 21.9 | 18.6 | |||||||||||||||
| Add: Interest expense | 1.0 | 4.0 | |||||||||||||||
| Total Segment Earnings (non-GAAP) | $ | 215.6 | $ | 193.9 | |||||||||||||
| North America | $ | 198.7 | $ | 188.6 | |||||||||||||
Rest of World(2) | 17.2 | 5.3 | |||||||||||||||
| Inter-segment earnings elimination | (0.3) | — | |||||||||||||||
| Total Segment Earnings (non-GAAP) | $ | 215.6 | $ | 193.9 | |||||||||||||
| Additional Information | |||||||||||||||||
(1)Corporate expense | $ | (21.9) | $ | (18.6) | |||||||||||||
| Impairment expense, before tax | — | 3.1 | |||||||||||||||
| Adjusted Corporate expense (non-GAAP) | $ | (21.9) | $ | (15.5) | |||||||||||||
(2)Rest of World | $ | 17.2 | $ | 5.3 | |||||||||||||
| Impairment expense, before tax | — | 12.5 | |||||||||||||||
| Adjusted Rest of World (non-GAAP) | $ | 17.2 | $ | 17.8 | |||||||||||||
23
A. O. SMITH CORPORATION
Free Cash Flow
(dollars in millions)
(unaudited)
The following is a reconciliation of reported cash flow from operating activities to free cash flow (non-GAAP):
| Three Months Ended March 31, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||||||||||||
| Cash provided by operating activities (GAAP) | $ | 106.6 | $ | 119.9 | |||||||||||||
| Less: Capital expenditures | (22.0) | (10.7) | |||||||||||||||
| Free cash flow (non-GAAP) | $ | 84.6 | $ | 109.2 | |||||||||||||
A. O. SMITH CORPORATION
2024 Adjusted EPS Guidance and 2023 Adjusted EPS
(unaudited)
The following is a reconciliation of diluted EPS to adjusted EPS (non-GAAP) (all items are net of tax):
| 2024 Guidance | 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Diluted EPS (GAAP) | $ | 3.90 - 4.15 | $ | 3.69 | ||||||||||||||||
| Restructuring and impairment expense | — | 0.12 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||
| Adjusted EPS (non-GAAP) | $ | 3.90 - 4.15 | $ | 3.81 | ||||||||||||||||
(1)Includes pre-tax restructuring and impairment expenses of $15.7 million and $3.1 million, within the Rest of World segment and Corporate expenses, respectively.
24
Critical Accounting Policies
Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S., which requires the use of estimates and assumptions about future events that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Future events and their effects cannot be determined with absolute certainty. Therefore, the determination of estimates requires the exercise of judgment. Actual results inevitably will differ from those estimates, and such differences may be material to the financial statements. The critical accounting policies that we believe could have the most significant effect on our reported results or require complex judgment by management are contained in Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023. We believe that at March 31, 2024, there was no material change to this information.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Refer to Recent Accounting Pronouncements in Note 1 – Basis of Presentation in the notes to our condensed consolidated financial statements included in Part 1 Financial Information.
Forward Looking Statements
This filing contains statements that the Company believes are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “forecast,” “continue,” “guidance,” “outlook” or words of similar meaning. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated as of the date of this filing. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these expectations include, among other things, the following: softening in U.S. residential water heater demand; negative impacts to the Company, particularly the demand for its products, resulting from global inflationary pressures or a potential recession in one or more of the markets in which the Company participates; the Company’s ability to continue to obtain commodities, components, parts and accessories on a timely basis through its supply chain and at expected costs; negative impacts to demand for the Company’s products, particularly commercial products, as a result of changes in commercial property usage that followed the COVID-19 pandemic; further weakening in U.S. residential or commercial construction or instability in the Company's replacement markets; inability of the Company to implement or maintain pricing actions; inconsistent recovery of the Chinese economy or a further decline in the growth rate of consumer spending or housing sales in China; negative impact to the Company’s businesses from international tariffs, trade disputes and geopolitical differences, including the conflicts in Ukraine,the Middle East and attacks on commercial shipping vessels in the Red Sea; potential further weakening in the high-efficiency gas boiler segment in the U.S.; substantial defaults in payment by, material reduction in purchases by or the loss, bankruptcy or insolvency of a major customer; foreign currency fluctuations; the Company’s inability to successfully integrate or achieve its strategic objectives resulting from acquisitions; competitive pressures on the Company’s businesses; including new technologies and new competitors; the impact of potential information technology or data security breaches; changes in government regulations or regulatory requirements; the inability to respond to secular trends toward decarbonization and energy efficiency and adverse developments in general economic, political and business conditions in key regions of the world. Forward-looking statements included in this filing are made only as of the date of this filing, and the Company is under no obligation to update these statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributed to the Company, or persons acting on its behalf, are qualified entirely by these cautionary statements.
ITEM 3 - QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
As is more fully described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, we are exposed to various types of market risks, including currency and certain commodity risks. Our quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk have not materially changed since that report was filed. We monitor our currency and commodity risks on a continuous basis and generally enter into forward and futures contracts to minimize these exposures. The majority of the contracts are for periods of less than one year. Our Company does not engage in speculation in our derivative strategies. It is important to note that gains and losses from our forward and futures contract activities are offset by changes in the underlying costs of the transactions being hedged.
ITEM 4 - CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures
Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined under Rule13a-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act). Based upon this evaluation of these disclosure controls and procedures, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of March 31, 2024 to ensure that information required to be
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disclosed by us in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time period specified in the SEC rules and forms, and to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure.
Changes in internal control over financial reporting
There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended March 31, 2024 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1 - LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
There have been no material changes in the legal and environmental matters discussed in Part 1, Item 3 and Note 16 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.
ITEM 2 - UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES, USE OF PROCEEDS, AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
In the first quarter of 2024, our Board of Directors approved adding 2,000,000 shares of common stock to the existing discretionary share repurchase authority. Under the share repurchase program, the Common Stock may be purchased through a combination of Rule 10b5-1 automatic trading plan and discretionary purchases in accordance with applicable securities laws. The number of shares purchased and the timing of the purchases will depend on a number of factors, including share price, trading volume and general market conditions, as well as working capital requirements, general business conditions and other factors, including alternative investment opportunities. The stock repurchase authorization remains effective until terminated by our Board of Directors which may occur at any time, subject to the parameters of any Rule 10b5-1 automatic trading plan that we may then have in effect. In the first quarter of 2024, we repurchased 906,000 shares at an average price of $82.22 per share and at a total cost of $74.5 million. As of March 31, 2024, there were 4,595,462 shares remaining on the existing repurchase authorization.
| ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Period | Total Number of Shares Purchased | Average Price Paid per Share | Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs | Maximum Number of Shares that may yet be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs | |||||||||||||||||||
| January 1 - January 31, 2024 | 344,000 | $ | 80.84 | 344,000 | 5,157,462 | ||||||||||||||||||
| February 1 - February 29, 2024 | 277,000 | 79.98 | 277,000 | 4,880,462 | |||||||||||||||||||
| March 1 - March 31, 2024 | 285,000 | 86.05 | 285,000 | 4,595,462 | |||||||||||||||||||
The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which was enacted into law on August 16, 2022, imposed a nondeductible 1% excise tax on the net value of certain stock repurchases made after December 31, 2022. All dollar amounts presented exclude such excise taxes, as applicable.
ITEM 5 - OTHER INFORMATION
During the three months ended March 31, 2024, none of our directors or Section 16 officers adopted terminated
ITEM 6 - EXHIBITS
Refer to the Exhibit Index on page 27 of this report.
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INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit Number | Description | |||||||
| 31.1 | ||||||||
| 31.2 | ||||||||
| 32.1 | ||||||||
| 32.2 | ||||||||
| 101 | The following materials from A. O. Smith Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 are filed herewith, formatted in XBRL (Extensive Business Reporting Language): (i) the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, (ii) the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Earnings for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, (iii) the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2024, and December 31, 2023 (iv) the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 (v) the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 (vi) the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. | |||||||
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has authorized this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned.
| A. O. SMITH CORPORATION | |||||
| April 26, 2024 | /s/ Benjamin A. Otchere | ||||
| Benjamin A. Otchere | |||||
| Vice President and Controller | |||||
| /s/ Charles T. Lauber | |||||
| Charles T. Lauber | |||||
| Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||||
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